A perfect storm is facing the agricultural sector and, in particular, farm families who live under the shadow of Brexit, delayed payments, the prospect of another harsh winter, a possible fodder shortage, and unworkable land due to flooding.
I welcome the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) review that was done recently and the €23 million extra funding there. However, unless there is additional funding; in terms of the front loading of payments, the increased payment rate per hectare and an increase in the number of eligible acres; this will not have the necessary effect of addressing the level of constraints experienced by farmers in marginal areas.
The bottom-line is that there needs to be a further targeting of payments towards the areas with the highest level of natural constraint.
Last Friday, I attended a meeting with hundreds of farmers organised by the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association in Mayo that discussed all of these concerns. It was really astounding that there was no Government representative at that meeting. Indeed, there was no Mayo Fianna Fáil representative either. For such an important issue and the many challenges facing this sector, it should have been prioritised.
In the last CAP reform, we saw minimal redistribution as larger farmers with higher payments were protected again. This CAP has to right some of the wrongs of the past by ensuring that farmers can make a reasonable living while keeping the rural economy alive promoting jobs and farming in the agri-industries and associated sectors.
